Blotter-bath



(No Model w O. M. BEARDSLEY Patented Jan. 8, 81888.

BLOTTBR BATE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MrBEARDSLEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BLOTTER-BTH.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,794, datel January 3, 1888.

Application filed January 13, 187. Serial No. 224.204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, OHARLEs M. BEARDs- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blotter-Baths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to `make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in blotter-baths; and it consists, broadly, in a blotter-bath in which the fluid for' moistening the blotting-pads is supplied by capillary attraction, substantially as shown and descrbed, and especially pointed out in the claims.

The invention is designed to overcome the objecton to placing the blotting-pads immediately in the pan or bath which contains the moistenng'fluid, as in such cases it is very dfficnlt, if not impossible, to maintain a uniform moisture of the pads and have them always ready for use. Usuall y, when the .bath is supplied with a fresh quantity of water, the pads at first become too wet, and, if they are tobe used soon, have to be pressed in the letter-press, so as to evenly distribute the moisture and make them dry enough not to run the ink on the paper to be copied. Then, if they are frequently used or allowed to stand in the bath after all the water has been absorbed, they soon become too dry for i'mmediate use. Then more water must be added and the pads placed in the press, for the reason aforementioned. Again, the very wet pads can scarcely be handled without tearing, and if excessively moistened, as will frequently occur, mildew or lose their consistency and become Worthless.

. By my invention these and other material oband no more.

(No model.)

disclosing the capillary wiek and the means for holding and compressing it.

A represents the outer pan of the bath, (shown here as rectangular in shape,) and having a cover hinged thereon in the usual way;

This pan may be made of galvanized iron, sheet-tin, or other suitable material, it only being necessary that it should keep its shape and be water-proof.

B is an inner pan, of like material, supported on legs b on the bottom of the outer pan, so as to provide a reservoir for water between the two pans. Any way that suggests itself for maintaining this relation will answer the purpose, or one pan may be set right upon the other. In the structure here shown there is a Waterspace about the sides and ends of the inner pan, as said pan is set within the flanged edges of the outer pan, said fianges being merely to give strength to the structure. If preferred, the outer pan may fit'closely within the inner pan and the size of the whole be materially reduced.

O represents a wiek of fibrous material, of such length that while one end rests on the bottom of the outer pan, or is imxnersed in the water therein, the other may be carried over the side of the inner pan and rest upon the bottoin of said pan. Any material that will conduct water or fluid by capillary attraction,, and any arrangement of the material that will serve to convey the fluid from one pan to the other, will serve my purpose and fall withinthe spirit and scope of my invention. However, the arrangement shown probably is as good as any, and I know of no material that answers my purpose better than common Sponge.

In the drawings I show a wick of sponge inclosed in a sheath or tube, c, of rubber, preferably, and a slight recess, b', cut in the pan B to enter said pan beneath the flange on the outer pan. On either side of the edge of the pan B, I place short bars d d, which are fastened thereon by short screW-bolts e e; and as the wick is gripped between these bars on both sides of the pan I can, by merely tnrning the screws, regulate the attraction of fluid through the wiek to a nicety, and permit just as much fluid to enter the pan B as may be required, Either or both screws may be IOO operated, and the wiek may have more or less` width and thiekness. A V-shaped cover over each end of the pan Bis shown; but this has no use, except to cover the wiek and to prevent the blotting-pads from slipping against the adjusting arrangement. The rubber sheath or tube is designed to contine the Wiek and keep it in a compact body, so that it may be more readil y controiled. It is more especially useful When sponge forms the capillary medium.

G represents a sheet of cloth or material that will absorb and retain moisture readily. This shcet is laid in the bottorn of the pan B, and serves admirably to take up the moisture from the Wicks and distribute it to the pads. The capillary wicks might of course discharge on top of the pads, (shown in the drawings at H,) or imniediately along their edges. The details of the arrangement are not essential so long as the principle of capillary attraction is eniployed to do the moistening; and the particular construction shown and deseribed is not therefore regarded as material, and may be considerably varied Without departing from my invcntion.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a blotter-bath having a rescrvoir for holding fiuid, a biotter-holder removed from the fluid-Chamber7 and capillary condueting material for conveying moisture from the reservoir to the holder, substaniially as set forth.

2. In a blotter-bath, the combination of a fiuid-reservoir and a blotter-holder with a capillary conductor, and means, substantially as described, to regulate the fiow of fiuid through the conductor.

3. The combination of a Water-reservoir and a blotter-holder, with a capillary conductor between said parts having a sheath in which the wiek is inclosed, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES M. BE RDSLEY.

`itncsses:

H. T. FISHER, WM. M. MONROE. 

